For as turbulent as 2018 has been for the Cardinals, they have, by and large, performed to expectations despite seemingly nothing (injuries, a midseason managerial change, etc.) transpiring as originally expected. They entered the season with a projected win total in the 85-90 window, enough to ensure them a spot in the thick of the National League wild card race. Fast forward to the final week of the regular season, and the Cardinals find themselves in the 85-90 win range and fighting to hold off the Rockies for the second wild card.
Although preseason projection models were generally accurate in predicting St.